Plymouth County, Massachusetts Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Plymouth County, Massachusetts?
Arrest records are public in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, commonly known as the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This statute establishes that governmental records, including arrest records, are presumptively public unless specifically exempted by law. The Commonwealth's commitment to transparency extends to records maintained by both state agencies and local governmental entities within Plymouth County, including the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and municipal police departments. Members of the public may access these records to ensure accountability in law enforcement operations and to obtain information about criminal activity within their communities.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law defines public records broadly to include all documentary materials made or received by any officer or employee of the Commonwealth, regardless of physical form or characteristics. Arrest records fall within this definition and are therefore accessible to any person upon request, subject to certain statutory exemptions that may apply to protect ongoing investigations or personal privacy in specific circumstances.
Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Plymouth County?
Plymouth County arrest records can be accessed online through several authorized platforms maintained by governmental agencies. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10(a), which encourages electronic access to public records, the Commonwealth has implemented digital systems to facilitate public access to arrest information. The Plymouth Police Department maintains public logs of arrests that can be accessed through their official website.
The Massachusetts Trial Court has also established electronic access systems that allow the public to search for court records related to arrests. These systems are designed in accordance with the Supreme Judicial Court's Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records, which govern the availability of court documents, including those pertaining to arrests and subsequent judicial proceedings.
Online access to arrest records is subject to certain limitations established by law to protect privacy interests and the integrity of ongoing investigations. Records that have been sealed or expunged pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100A-C are not available through online platforms or other means of public access.
How to Look Up Plymouth County Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple methods are available for obtaining Plymouth County arrest records, as prescribed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10. Interested parties may utilize the following procedures to access these public documents:
Submit a formal public records request to the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department located at 24 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360. Requests may be submitted in person during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM), by mail, or via electronic submission.
Contact the specific municipal police department where the arrest occurred. For example, the Plymouth Police Department is located at 20 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, and can be reached at (508) 830-4218 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
Access the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access system, which provides information about court cases resulting from arrests in Plymouth County. This system allows searches by name, case number, or other identifiers.
Visit the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office at 166 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301, during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) to request information about prosecutions resulting from arrests.
Utilize the Plymouth County Correctional Facility inmate lookup system for information about individuals currently in custody following arrest. The facility is located at 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, and can be reached at (508) 830-6200.
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10(a), records custodians must respond to requests within 10 business days. Fees for copies of records may be assessed in accordance with § 10(d) of the same chapter, but may not exceed the actual cost of reproducing the records.
Contents of a Plymouth County Arrest Record
Plymouth County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 33, and regulations established by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. These records typically include the following elements:
- Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases or previous names
- Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
- Statutory charges filed at the time of arrest, including Massachusetts General Laws chapter and section references
- Booking photographs (commonly referred to as "mugshots") taken during the processing procedure
- Fingerprint impressions collected for identification and record-keeping purposes
- Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Residential address of the arrested individual at the time of arrest
- Arresting agency and the name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
- Incident report number and booking number assigned for administrative tracking
- Disposition information indicating whether the individual was released on bail, held for arraignment, or otherwise processed
The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary depending on the arresting agency and the circumstances of the arrest. Records maintained by the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department typically contain more detailed information than those maintained by municipal police departments due to their role in operating the county correctional facility.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Plymouth County
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100E-K establishes the legal framework for expungement of arrest records in Plymouth County. Expungement provides for the permanent erasure or destruction of records, making them unavailable to the public and to most governmental agencies. This process differs from sealing records, which merely restricts access while maintaining the physical existence of the records.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Plymouth County include:
- The arrest resulted in no criminal proceedings, or the proceedings resulted in a dismissal or nolle prosequi
- The offense for which the person was arrested is no longer a crime
- The arrest was made as a result of false identification or the unauthorized use of the person's identity
- The offense was committed by another person using the identity of the petitioner
- The offense was a result of a demonstrable error by law enforcement or court personnel
The expungement petition process requires:
- Filing a petition with the Commissioner of Probation and the Plymouth County District Court or Superior Court where the case was adjudicated
- Providing documentation supporting the grounds for expungement
- Attending a hearing before a judge who will determine whether expungement serves justice
- If granted, notification to all relevant agencies to destroy records related to the arrest
The Plymouth County District Court is located at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360, and accepts expungement petitions during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100K, if expungement is granted, the subject of the expunged record may respond to any inquiry as though the arrest never occurred, with limited exceptions for certain governmental and licensing agencies.
Search Arrest Records in Plymouth County
